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The Phantom Atlas
The Greatest Myths, Lies and Blunders on Maps
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The Phantom Atlas
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Description
A STUNNINGLY ILLUSTRATED BOOK REVEALING THE GREATEST MYTHS, LIES AND BLUNDERS ON MAPS
'Highly recommended' - Andrew Marr
'A spectacular, enjoyable and eye-opening read' - Jonathan Ross
The Phantom Atlas is an atlas of the world not as it ever existed, but as it was thought to be. These marvellous and mysterious phantoms—non-existent islands, invented mountain ranges, mythical civilisations, and other fictitious geography—were all at various times presented as facts on maps and atlases. This book is a collection of striking antique maps that display the most erroneous cartography, with each illustration accompanied by the story behind it.
Exploration, map-making, and mythology are all brought together to create a colourful tapestry of monsters, heroes and volcanoes; swindlers, mirages and murderers. Sometimes the stories are almost impossible to believe, and remarkably, some of the errors were still on display in maps published in the 21st century. Throughout much of the 19th century, more than 40 different mapmakers included the Mountains of Kong, a huge range of peaks stretching across the entire continent of Africa, in their maps—but it was only in 1889 when Louis Gustave Binger revealed the whole thing to be a fake. For centuries, explorers who headed to Patagonia returned with tales of the giants they had met who lived there, some nine feet tall. Then there was Gregor MacGregor, a Scottish explorer who returned to London to sell shares in a land he had discovered in South America. He had been appointed the Cazique of Poyais and bestowed with many honours by the local king of this unspoiled paradise. Now he was offering others the chance to join him and make their fortune there, too—once they had paid him a bargain fee for their passage...
The Phantom Atlas is a beautifully produced volume, packed with stunning maps and drawings of places and people that never existed. The remarkable stories behind them all are brilliantly told by Edward Brooke-Hitching in a book that will appeal to cartophiles everywhere.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The Phantom Atlas is widely praised for its captivating exploration of historical cartographic errors, myths, and mysteries. It is described as beautifully illustrated and a fascinating read, offering well-researched tales that delve into how imaginary places were once depicted as reality on maps. Reviewers note its delightful visual appeal and the engaging storytelling of Edward Brooke-Hitching, making it both an educational and entertaining book for map enthusiasts and casual readers alike.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781471159459
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 03 November 2016
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Simon & Schuster Ltd
Illustration: Full Colour Throughout
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 189.0mm
Height: 246.0mm
Weight: 700g
Pages: 256
About the Author
Edward Brooke-Hitching is the author of the critically acclaimed and bestselling books The Phantom Atlas (2016), The Golden Atlas (2018), The Sky Atlas (2019), The Madman's Library (2020) and The Devil's Atlas (2021), all of which have been translated into numerous languages; he is also the author of Fox Tossing, Octopus Wrestling and Other Forgotten Sports (2015). He is a writer for the BBC series QI. A fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and an incurable cartophile, he lives surrounded by dusty heaps of old maps and books in Berkshire.
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'Very beautiful and illuminating' – Mariella Frostrup Edward Brooke-Hitching, author of the international bestseller The Phantom Atlas, delivers an atlas unlike any other. The Devil’s Atlas is an illustrated guide to the heavens, hells, and lands of the dead as imagined throughout history by cultures and religions around the world. Packed with colourful maps, paintings, and captivating stories, the reader...Hardback$5999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
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Beautiful ... endless, brilliant, unforgettable stories' Cerys Matthews, BBC Radio 6* Combining myth and science, this breathtaking book [is] packed with stunning images' Daily Mail After the enormous international success of The Phantom Atlas and The Golden Atlas, Edward Brooke-Hitching's brilliant book unveils some of the most beautiful maps and charts ever created during mankind's quest to map the skies...HardbackSold Out -
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